Sect. 2. FREEDOM OF ^IT &c. 121

this manner ; they praise the other. “ So far was“ right ; but further , wrong-. Such a cafe was“ allowable; but such a one not to be admitted. ”They introduce a lustice and an older in theirpleasures. They would bring Reason to be oftheir party , account in some manner for theirlives , and form themselves to some kind ofconsonancy and agreement: or should they findthis impracticable on certain terms , they wouldchuse to sacrifice their other pleasures to thosewhich arise from a generous behaviour , a regu-larity of conduct, and a consistency of life andmanners :

Ft ver a numerosque modosque ediscere vita 5 .

Other occasions will put us upon this thought;but chiefly a strong view of merit , in a generouscharacter, opposed to some detestably vile one.Hence it is, that, among poets, the satirists seldomfail in doing justice to Virtue. Nor are any ofthe nobler poets false to this cause. Even modernwits , whose turn is all towards gallantry andpleasure , when barefaced villany stands in theirway, and brings the contrary species in view,can sing in passionate strains the praises of plainhonesty.

When we are highly friends with the world,successful with the fair , and prosperous in thepossession of other beauties; we may perchance,

S Hor. epist. 2. lib. s.